Can you fly with an Electronic Cigarette?

One of the key features of electronic cigarettes is that they can be used in places where smoking is prohibited such as offices, restaurants, bus terminals, elevators, and airports.

For those who crave an intense nicotine fix when traveling or on airplanes , the chance to smoke in planes is a huge selling point.

The lack of clear federal regulation has allowed electronic cigarette vendors to market their products as a smoking device that can be used anywhere, even on commercial flights. Although the US Department of Transportation considers ecigs to be no different than real cigarettes, the agency has not officially banned their use on aircrafts.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has left that task to the US air carriers, allowing them to make their own policies regarding the use of e-cigarettes during flights. According to Airlines for America, the country’s largest airline trade association, “in the absence of definitive governmental guidance, airlines are deciding this issue individually.”

Major airlines do not allow them since they contradict the no smoking ban as well as produce a propylene glycol vapor when smoked. Even if you smoke discreetly in the restroom, your ecig vapor could trigger the smoke detector and become a cause for alarm. Airlines also want to avoid arguments between passengers and flight attendants over the use of ecigs, which happened on a Continental flight from Oregon last year.

JetBlue says that although electronic cigarettes may be non-hazardous, it does not allow the use of ecigs on any of its flights because the vapor is a nuisance.

United Airlines prohibits all simulated smoking materials including e-cigs.

If you want to get your fix while in the air, nicotine gum and patches are currently your only option. You can, however, bring your ecig gear with you on a commercial flight. It is best to separate the battery and cartomizer to avoid hold ups in security checkpoints. If you are carrying e-liquid, make sure you meet the 3.4 ounces (100ml) limit for carry-on liquids. Before packing your electronic cigarette kit, check the smoking regulations of your destination country. It’s pretty pointless to bring your ecigs when you won’t be able to use them when you land.